Paper cutting means with a suction applying device



Dec. 8, 1953 LlTTMAN 2,561,801

PAPER cumuc MEANS WITH A SUCTION APPLYING DEVICE Filed oct. 19. 1950 I N V EN TOR. a a/ram [if/MW I nilwmum Patented Dec. 8, 1953 QUE-TING M S. WHEEL A 3Q$ QN APPLXING DEYLQE.

Lawrence Littman, Ramsey, N. 3., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Advance Holding Corporation, Upper Montcla of Jerse ir, 3., a corporation Application gctqbc f 1 1 .5.0, .Sel iallio. 13143.25!

11 Cl ims. 1

The present invention relates generally to devices for cutting paper, and more particularly to such a device for cutting lengths of paper during movement through a portion of a printing press.

In printing operations it is frequently desirable to print matteron relatively large sheets or lengths of paper and to thereafter cut the printed lengths to smaller widths. While the paper could be first printed on one machine and then through a separate cutting machine, this is objectionable due to the additional ma chinery, time and labor required. It is therefore preferred to cut the paper as it moves along some portion of a printingpress. The latter presents difficulties however, as the prints ing and feed rollers of modern high speed presses require moving the paper at high speed, any: thing which might interfere with movement of the paper or cause it to tear, or would require slower press speed, is objectionable, as it would decrease the production rate.

Attempts have been madeto produce a sat-is.-. factory device forcutting sheets during move: ment through a printing press, but they have presented various objections. Some have been too complicated .or expensive, others have res quircd making extensive changes to presses in order to install them, still others have tended to interfere ohjectionably with the sheets during their movement.

The present invention aims. to overcome the above and other diniculties by providing a new and improved cutting device that may be ;read-. ily installed in existing printing presses, as well as in new presses. The invention further @111 templates the provision of a device which may be employed to cut rapidly moving lengths of paper without interfering with the moving paper or requiring slower speeds.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved paper cutting device,

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved paper cutting device that may be readily and inexpensively incorporated exist,- in printing presses, as well as in ew rinti g press s- Another object of the inventio is to provide an mprov d cutting device whi h does n ha per ap m m o l n ths oi aper thr u h p intin pr sses- Another object of the invention is to provide an improved cutting device which accurately 2 an improved cutting device which embodies means for applying suction to only a narrow portion of a moving length of paper so as not to interfere with rapid movement of-the material.

Still another object ofthe invention is to provide an improved cutting device which does not require a large supporting area for the material during cutting.

Gther and inr-ther objects ofthe invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will he indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description and is shown in the accompanying drawings, forminga part of the specification, wherein:-

Fig. l is a fnaginen-ta-ry elevational view, partly insection, showing the present invention adjacent the discharge portion of a printing press;-

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating a portion of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 ofFis. 2; and

Fig. 4 is an elcva-tional view, partly in section, showing a modified form of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown a portion of a rotatable printing press sprocket 3 over opposite ends of which travel chains (not shown) that carry gripping means 5 at spaced intervals across the width of the press. The gripping means 5 hold the leading or front edges of lengths of paper 5 and pull them toward a stack 7. The sprocket, chains and spaced grippers are indicated diagrammatically and are intended to represent those used in various commercially available printing presses.

- accordance with usual practice, lengths or sheets of paper, after being printed, are pulled generally vertically upwardly by the grippers and thence horizontally, being delivered from the latter horizontal position onto the upper surface of the stack -'l. As the grippers travel horizontally, their highspeed causes the-sheet 6 to assume a horizontal position behind the grippers; that is, as the grippers travel horizontally, the sheets which they are pulling trail out behind them in horizontal position. The grippers are carried by their actuating chains about a close path sov that some sets of grim pers are always moving lengths of paper away over a vacuum box it located immediately in 5.

front of a rotatable cutter H. The vacuum box it] is provided adjacent its rear wall with a narrow upwardly facing slot l3. A hose it may be connected with suction applying means such as a vacuum pump, so that air is withdrawn from the interior of the vacuum box and thus tends to create a suction or vacuum along the narrow upwardly facing slot l3. As paper is pulled over the vacuum box l9, suction is appliedthrough the slot l3 along a narrow zone at the underside M of the moving paper and holds the paper down along the length of the slot; applying suction only along the narrow slot provides minimum friction between the moving paper and the upper surface of the vacuum box iii, thereby avoiding objectionable retarding of the paper. As a result paper moves freely over the vacuum box and yet is pulled down along a narrow line immediately in front of the cutter ii. The vacuum box may be mounted on any suitable portion of the printing L press structure.

The cutter H has its outer edge l2 close to the slot 13 of the vacuum box and the cutter rotates downwardly toward the slot (clockwise as shown in Fig. 1) so that it does not tend to lift the moving paper away from the vacuum slot l3. As the cutter rotates it severs the moving paper.

The cutter may be driven by a rotatable shaft 19 of a small air motor 29 connected with an air tube 23. The motor may be carried by an arm 2| and a set screw 22 may be employed to retain the motor 20 in position on the .arm. While an electric motor may be used instead of an air motor, the latter is preferable as its small size minimizes the possibility of interference with adjacent parts of the printing press.

For facilitating vertical adjustment of the cutter H and also placing it close to the slot It, the rear side ill of the vacuum box is preferably inclined and the cutter mounting arm 2| is carried by a shaft 25 located below and adjacent the front of the vacuum box it. When bolts 26, or other means employed to clamp the arm 2i on the shaft 25, are loosened the arm 2i may be turned about the shaft 25 to simultaneously change the elevation of the cutter and its spacing from the rear edge of the vacuum box; such adjustments may be necessary from time to time due to sharpening the cutters or due to setting up the device for cutting operations. The cutter may also be adjusted along the shaft 25 and clamped thereon to sever the paper at any desired location across its width.

In operation a continuous suction is supplied to the vacuum box through the hose l5, grippers pull lengths of paper over the suction slot l3 and suction is applied against the underside of the paper to hold it downwardly along a narrow line. The use of a partial vacuum in the box Hi and its application against the paper through the narrow slot l3, provides very accurate control of the force with which the paper is pulled down. The outer edge i2 of the cutter H is close to the slot and readily severe the moving paper. Since suction is applied to the moving paper only along the slot it, there is a minimum of retarding friction between the moving paper and the vacuum box. The cutter projects up into the air behind the box and it is not necessary to support the horizontally disposed moving paper at opposite sides of the cutter or behind it; in fact such additional supports would increase the frictional contact and tend to interfere with or impede movement of the paper.

In some instances it may be desired to provide vacuum plates at opposite sides of the vacuum box 18 to minimize any tendency for the moving paper to be pulled down into a sort of localized valley adjacent the vacuum box slot 13. As shown such a vacuum plate may comprise a board 2'6 of suitable shape mounted on top of auxiliary vacuum boxes 2?. A number of small diameter spaced openings 29 through the auxiliary boxes 2'1 minimum.

and upper board 26 permit application of suction to the underside of the paper at spaced points across its width and tend to hold outwardly disposed portions of the paper while suction is applied to the aper at the suction slot 63. Where such auxiliary vacuum plates are employed, the relatively small spaced openings 29 thereof apply a minimum retarding effect on the moving paper. When the vacuum plates are utilized at opposite sides of the vacuum box IE), they may be of any suitable length which does not interfere with travel of the grippers 5 or any other moving parts.

If paper is to be out at more than a single location across its width the cutter and associated vacuum box may merely be duplicated at appropriate locations. If desired the vacuum plates shown may be used with each of the additional cutters and their vacuum boxes.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a modified form of the invention which differs from that of Figs. 1-3 in employing a vacuum box with upwardly projecting lip portions 30 forming a narrow slot through which suction is applied against the underside of the paper. In this form of the invention there is a minimum of contact between the Paper and the vacuum box, as the moving paper comes into contact with only the uppermost edges of the slotforming lips 38. As indicated in Fig. 4, it is not essential that a vacuum box and cutter be located immediately adjacent the discharge end of the guide plate 5, that shown in Fig. 4 being spaced any suitable distance from the guide plate Be.

It will be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved device for cutting paper during movement thereof along a portion of a printing press. The cutter disc of the present machine projects up into the air where it may freely sever the horizontally moving paper and it is not necessary to support the paper alongside the cutter or behind Suction is applied against the underside of the moving paper along what may be referred to as a narrow line immediately in front or" the cutter edge. There is a minimum of support at the underside of the paper and hence frictional contact between the paper and a support is reduced to an absolute E'he device of the present invention is preferably located at a portion of the machine through which the paper moves horizontally during operation of the press.

As various changes be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts here-- in without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sa-crificin' any of access;

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. A device of. the class described,- for cuttin a length of paper during edgewise movement thereof comprising the combination of means for cutting the paper during said movement, means one side of the path of movement of the paper for carrying and actuating said cutting and means at the same side of the path as said carrying and actuating means for applying suction to the paper at a'lccation spaced in advance of saidcutting means thereby to pull the paper toward said carrying and actuating means and the cutting means.

2. A device of the class described for cutting a length of paper during edgewise movement thereof comprising the combination of means for cutting the paper during said movement, and means having an outwardly exposed slot disposed generally transversely of the path of movement of the paper for :pplying suction to the paper along a zone transversely disposed to said cutting means and spaced in advance thereof to thereby facilitate engagement of the paper with said cutting means.

3. A device of the class described for cutting a length of paper during edgewise movement thereof comprising the combination of means for cutting the paper during said movement, means having an outwardly exposed slotdisposed generally transversely of the path of movement of the paper and spaced in advance of said cutting means for applying suction to the paper along a zone transversely disposed to said cutting means to thereby facilitate engagement of the paper with said cutting means, and a projection extending about aid slot forming a raised paper supporting lip.

i. A device of the class described for cutting a length of paper during edgewise movement thereof comprising the combination of means having an outwardly exposed slot disposed generally transversely of the path of movement of the paper for applying suction to the paper at a location in advance of a cutting means thereby to facilitate engagement of the paper with the cutting means, means having a cutting edge spaced rearwardly from said slot for cutting the paper during said movement, a shaft below said suction applying means and in advance of said slot, and an arm supporting said cutting means on said shaft for swinging movement of the cutting means about said shaft thereby to vary the height of said cutting edge and its spacing from said slot.

5. A device of the class described for cutting a length of paper during edgewise movement thereof in a horizontal plane, comprising the combination of means below said horizontal plane of movement having an upwardly facing exposed slot with longitudinal axis disposed generally transversely of the path of movement of the paper for applying suction to a lower surface of the paper through said exposed slot at a location in advance of a cutting means thereby to facilitate engagement of the paper with the cutting means, rotatable means projecting through said horizontal plane of movement having a cutting edge spaced from said slot for cutting the paper, and means for rotating said cutting means in a direction tending to urge the moving paper downwardly toward said slot.

6. A device of the class described for cutting a moving length of material comprising a rotatable disc cutter, means having an elongated narrow opening in advance of said cutter and extend-ins generally p pendicular to the plane of. the cutter for apply n suctionto th moving material to pull'i-t down during movement. an additional means at opposite sides of said firs means. havin a plurality of spaced opening in general alignment with said elongated narrow opening for applying suction to the m v ng material at plurality of spaced locations.

7-. A device of the class described for cutting longitudinally a length of paper or like sheet material comprising means for moving the sheet along a path in which a zone of the sheet inter mediate its lateral edges passes succ ss v y til a supporting surface and thereafter through a portion of the path in which said zone of the sheet is unsupported, a suction box having a wall omp isin aid suppor ing surface and having therein a slot transverse tosaid path, a cutter having an edge in a plane normal to the plane of said slot, means positioning the cutter in the unsupported portion of the path with its edge intersecting the path, and means for apof the box and guiding the sheet in its movement to the cutter.

8. A device of the class described for cutting longitudinally a length of paper or like sheet material comprising means for moving the sheet along a, path in which a zone of the sheet intermediate its lateral edges passes successively over a supporting surface and thereafter through a portion of the path in which said zone of the sheet is unsupported, a suction box having a wall comprising said supporting surface and having therein a slot transverse to said path, a'cutter having an edge in a plane normal to the plane of said slot, means positioning the cutter in the unsupported portion of the path with its edge intersecting the path comprising a support extending toward the path from the side thereof on which the box is positioned, and means for applying suction to the box for maintaining said zone of the sheet engaged with the slotted wall of the box and guiding the sheet in its movement to the cutter.

9. A device of the class described for cutting longitudinally a length of paper or like sheet material comprising means for moving the sheet along a path in which a zone of the sheet intermediate its lateral edges passes successively over a supporting surface and thereafter through a portion of the path in which said zone of the sheet is unsupported, a suction box having a wall comprising said supporting surface and having therein a slot transverse to said path, a rotary cutter havingan edge in a plane normal to the plane of said slot, means positioning the cutter in the unsupported portion of the path with its edge intersecting. the path, means rotating the cutter toward the box, and means for applying suction to the box for maintaining said zone of the sheet engaged with the slotted wall of the box and guiding the sheet in its movement to the cutter.

10. A device of the class described for cutting longitudinally a length of paper or like sheet material comprising means for moving the sheet edgewise along a generally horizontal fiat straight path, a suction box in the forward portion of said path having an upper surface provided with a slot transverse to said path and adapted to be engaged with the under surface of the sheet during said movement, and a cutter spaced behind said box having an edge in a plane normal to said slot for severing said sheet, means supporting the cutter from below said path and positioning the cutter edge to intersect said path, and means for applying suction to the box.

11. A device of the class described for cuttin longitudinally a length of paper or like sheet material comprising means for moving the sheet edgewise along a generally horizontal flat straight path, a suction box in the forward portion of said path having an upper surface provided with a slot transverse to said path and adapted to be engaged with the under surface of the sheet during said movement, a rotary cutter spaced oehind said box having an edge in a plane normal to said slot for severing said sheet, means supporting the cutter from below said path and positioning the cutter edge to intersect said path,

means rotating the cutter toward the box, and means for applying suction to the box.

- LAWRENCE LITTMAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

